Expansion-joint.



Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

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JOHN T. KELLY, or BROOKLYN, NEW Yonx, AssreNon or ONE-HALF 'roi GEORGE M.

- JoNEs, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

nXrANsroN-JOINT.

iSpecication-of Letters Patent.

Application led FebruaryP 7, 1910. Serial No. 542,639.

Patent-eu Nov. 25, 1913.

Qcal use consists vof a cast iron body having a s tuii'ng box and a cast brass sleeve fitting telescopic'ally therein'so that' 'said sleeve is free to adjust itself longitudinally in said cast iron body according as the expansion or contraction takes place in the line, duei to the changes of temperature to which the*l line is exposed. These expansion joints are formed of various lengths to suit the length of traverse of the sleeve within the body and are formed either with screw or with fiange joints for connection with the main line of pipe. .To provide the expansion joints to' suit the different sizes and lengths of traverse separate castings for each separate part are required,`jsuch` castings vary ing for each different size according to the ditie'rent lengths of traverse and it being necessary to provide special patterns and castings Afor each variation in length of joint as Well as in diameter, so that where special lengths of joints are required or parts are required for repair, they cannot be obtained without being specially ordered and great delay is experienced in 'eitherthe manufacture of such --special lengths'oriu replacing forrepair.

One of the. objects of iny invention is to rovide a strong and durable' expansion joint made up of sections of tubing. and whichcan be varied .in length as desired, together with special connections which may be staple articles of manufacture and carried in stock by supply houses,- so that the joints may be provided without delay occasioned .by Waiting for special castings or other parts to be furnished, which may.

-require the making of new patterns and I I Y core boxes; and by which expansionjoints varying in length may be readily producedby the simple operation of cutting the tub-A ing to the desired lengthl and Without change in the special staple connections or fittings.

Another object is to provide such expansion joint .formed of greater strength and lighter in weight and having the main portion forme-d of strong condensed wrought metal while providing an especially smooth and olished sleeve to work within the stuffing ox,making the joint .much more s'e-nsi-A tive so that it responds more quickly to the dii'erences in expansion -and contraction and preventn Wear of the packing mate-v Vrial in the stu ng box, and o ne which has a high resistance -to corrosion andr is not so liable to injury from the liquids or fluids fiowing through the same.

erally stated, in an expansion joint having its outer bodylportion formed of a wrought metal tube, having at one end a 'couplmg- 'sleeve formed of a plain section'of drawn4 wrought metal tubing passing through the stuipig box. It also includes other improvemen s ashereinafter stated."

In the drawing Figure 1 is an exterior view of my improved expansion joint; Flg. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section showing another form of couplings Afor the parts.

In the drawn the numerals 2 andv 3 represent sections o? the main linevof pipe, said sections having suitable threaded couplings 4 and 4 in Fig. 25 while in Fig. 3 the parts 'are vcoupledby flanged couplings 4, 4" yscrewing onto the different parts. The other reference numerals on said Fig. 3 are the same as on Fig.l 2. The coupling is arranged for connection with the outer body portion which is formed of a'plain straight section of standard wrought steel tubing having the threaded end 6 'engaging with the coupling 4," and at itsopposite end provided with the l threads 7 on which the stuiing box 8 is se-v cured. This section 5 of wrought steel tnb- 'p `ing can be of any desired lenggh according -to the length of traverse of-'the expansion joint, it only being necessary to cut the same tothe desired length, varying according to the`f'traverse,l and thread and screwit into the coupling andthe stuiiing' box. By making of steel its strength To these ends my invention consists.` genis greatly increased and theY liability of breaking found in cast iron is overcome, While the weight of the stuffing box is very much reduced. The stutling box 8 has the gland 9, and said gland is connected to said stufling box by means of the threaded bolts 10, suitable packing 9 being employed.

The inner section or .sleve 11 of the expansion joint consists of a straight plain section of standard drawn tubing, preferably being formed of a copper containing metal, such as brass or copper tubing, having a highei` co-efficient of expansion than the wrought iron or steel section 5, and having a high resistance to corrosion, While any corrosive action on its surface leaves it practically smooth. This-sleeve 11, like the body 5, can be cut to the desired length suitable for the length of traverse of the stufling box to beproduced, and itis only necessary to thread the end thereof and screw the same intothe coupling 4 connecting it with the main line pipe 3. Thesleeve 11 passes through stuffing box 8 and forms a close joint therewith to prevent leakage, -and itI enters the wrought metal body portion 5 for the desired distance'. The drawn tubing 1l forming the sleeve has a very smooth highly polished surface which fits Within the stufling boxso as to move freely therein under the expansion and contraction of the main line pipe, the joint being held tight by the packing 9a Within the stuiing box 8, and the smooth, polished surface of the drawn tubing provides a more perfect surface for forming a tight joint With such packing sleeve. The drawn wrought metal is alsoI exceedingly dense and firm and therefore is ableto resist 'cutting action of acids or other fluids better than cast metal and is therefore not so liable to cut off in use and form imperfections which would affect the tightness of the joint, While as it has no welded line of junction it presents a perfect surface entirely around the body of the tubing. The drawn copper containing tubing'preferably used for the tclescoping of the pipe has also the advantage of high resistance to corrosion, while as its surface is highly compacted in the formation thereof, any possible action ot' acid thereon leaves it practically pen fectly smooth and polished so that the close joint through the stuffing box is maintained. In order toprevcnt the expansion jointfrom pulling apart and to center the drawn metal section oftubing within the body of the` tube, I prefer to thread the inner end of the seamless drawn tube section 11 and screw thereon the collar 14 which, in case of heavy contraction in the line of tubing, engages with the collar 15 of the stning box and prevents blowing out of' the joint. This collar also serves Vthe purpose of centering the sleeve 11 Within the body 5, insuring the contraction and expansion of the joint without throwing the parts under lateral strain, and so insuring perfect movement of the joint.

When my improved expansion joint is in use under the expansion andcontraction of the main line, due to changes of temperature, the drawn tube section forming the sleeve 11 slides back and forth within the stuffing box, and on account of the highly polished condensed surface of the drawn seamlesstube from which the sleeve is formed it is exceedingly sensitive to changes of temperature, while because of such highly polished sur- 'face it preserves a tight joint without. appreciable wear upon the packing within the stufiing box. By the' employment of the drawn coppercontaining tube for the telescoping -meniber of the joint an expansion joint is'provided which has a high resistance to corrosion without the necessity of making the entire joint of such copper-containing material, so greatly cheapenmg the same.

The action of the gases or fluids will be resistedby the drawn compacted surface of such copper-containing tube, which is t-he member extending through the stuffing box and therefore a more perfect and durable joint will be provided, the drawn surface of such copper-containing tube resisting the action of such fluids more perfectly than an ordinary cast brass or other copper-containing tube and in case parts ofthe joint remain in the same relative position without the sliding of the tube through the stuffing box for .any great period, all liability of thesticking of the tube in place through corrosion of the outer metal surface thereof and of the gland 9 together is overcome, all iron expansion joints tbeing liable to this action.

The different castings of the joint including' the couplings 4 and 4'* and the stufing box 8 can be kept in stock by manufacturers and dealers, together with the proper size of tubing, and the joints can be quickly assembled by the mere cutting of the body portion 5 and sleeve 11 from the roper sizes of standard wrought metal tu ing, the joint being carried in length to suit the varied length ot traverse required, and either in the ol parts for repair the joints or parts there-- necessity of the casting of special parts. ThiS of special advantage for the users and dealers at great distances from the places of manufacture Where to eupply .the trade they are required to Carry in Stock only a few parts from whieh the expansion joints can be quickly assembled. `It, is also of importance, to the inanhfacturer `who is enabled to supply the trade without so large inveetinent in special patterns and castings, and machinery for iiniehing the same, and who can till orders Without the long delay neeesoary to make the some. The construe; 'tion the joint also greatly Simplified, and the labor in its manutentore is rdm-ed, since the inain portions are of standard coinmereial tnbing'while the expeneive Work of turning and grinding' the sleeve portion oitx the Stuffing box is clone away with and at the saine time. a. much stronger stntling hox is provided having a inneh harder and more. 'g'hly p. ished sleeve, making a oint which is very sens'iti e to the alighteat expansion oi: contraction o the line. The joint is also greatly increased in strength because. the main body portion and. the sleeve which are neeeaaarily inacle with lthin walls, are niacle of wrought metal which is adapted to resist lthe high pressures carried in the lines nnich bett-er than the ordinary casting,'ancl the Weight of the smiling box i5 inaterialbr retlnceti on account of. the thinner anfl lighter Walle o' the main hotly portion and Sleeve.

Thilo l a in aware that it has been suggeted to-form certain parts of these expansion joints of Wrought metal, yet the other main portion has been always formed of a casting so that the special advantages arising from the present invention making it possible to vary the length of the expansion joint as above described, and to obtain the special advantages above set forth, have not previously been known.

What. l claim is:

l. in expansion joint having its outer body portion formed of' wrought metal tubing having at one end a coupling toi' conneftion with the main line and at the other end a. separate metal Smiling box, and its inner telescoping Sleeve toi-ined. of a plain section of drawn n-'i'ought metal' tubing passingthrongh the stutiing box.

2. An expansion joint having its outer body portion formed of wrought metal tub-y ingl havinggit one end a coupling for connection with the main line and at the other end a separate metal Stnl'iing box, and its inner telefscoping Sleeve formed of a plain section of drawn copper Containing metal ytubing passing through the stulliifig box.

In testimony whereof7 l the said JOHN T. KELLY have hereunto sot my hand.

' JNO. T. KELLY. fitnessen r FRANCES KenANnon, JNO. J. McGee. 

